Here are some model motions for NUS National Conference 2015. We are supporting the Student Assembly Against Austerity’s model motions on range of issues from free education to opposing racist scapegoating and we have also drafted a two other important motions on Palestine and climate change.

NUS National Conference 2015 takes place in April and is the place where next year’s policies and priorities for the national student movement are decided.

Every Students’ Union has the right to submit policies – and every student has the right to put forward policies you want your Students’ Union to be putting forward.

Student Broad Left previews the Latin America ¡Adelante! Conference 2014 taking place on Saturday November 29 at Congress House. The Conference is now in its 10th year, and offers a unique opportunity to hear all about the latest developments in the region.

Over the past week, people who support the current US/UK bombing campaign in Iraq have attacked those who are against the imperialists’ intervention. As part of a campaign to build support for the West’s military operations in the Middle-East the anti-war position is being caricatured.

The anti-war and peace movements in Britain oppose the bombing. The bombing of Iraq and Syria is already leading to civilian deaths and widespread destruction. The anti-war position is being deliberately misrepresented as a demonstration of support for the terrorist group ISIS. On the contrary, the West and its military campaigns have been responsible for the creation and current growth of this terrorism, and the bombing campaign will exacerbate this situation - which is one of the reasons why the anti-war movement opposes the bombing.

MPs, trade unionists, senior student leaders, campaigners, writers, filmmakers and actors have signed a united statement against the bombing of Iraq & Syria – outlining that such an attack will only strengthen terrorism.

The National Union of Students – which represents 7 million students in the UK – have voted to condemn Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza, demand the siege on Gaza is lifted, demand the UK government stop arming Israel and call upon the student movement to boycott companies and corporations that facilitate Israel’s military capacity, human rights abuses and illegal settlement activity.

National demo for Gaza
Stop the killing - end the siege - US & UK stop arming Israel now!
Saturday 9 August
Assemble at midday outside BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
For march to Hyde Park via the US Embassy

Barnaby Raine, a student from Oxford University and one of the organisers of the Jewish Bloc that marched on the London demonstration for Gaza in July 2014 was interviewed about allegations of anti-Semitism on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Sky News. Here we share the video of his interview.

What a year 2014 has been. Not only did we stop the sell off of student’s loans, but a whole new movement for free education was born. In the same year as students joined the biggest ever demonstrations against the war on Gaza, NUS has taken a stand against the new US/UK war on Iraq and Syria. And the tide of racism both here and in the US is being challenged by a movement that is not afraid to take to the streets.

Here’s Student Broad Left’s top ten highlights from 2014 that show if we fight together, we win together.

Next Monday (27th October) the Students of Queens University Belfast will be asked to vote on the proposition “Should Ireland be a united and independent country?”

The petition for such a campus poll garnered 700 signatures at the University’s Fresher’s Fair. Sean Fearon, chairperson of QUB Sinn Fein, said that it was signed by “almost two persons per minute”. This shows the enthusiasm and dynamism amongst many young people in the north of Ireland for a debate on their constitutional future. As demonstrated during the recent Scottish Referendum, such debates can galvanise younger people to get involved, including those previously detached from politics. By initiating this debate the students of Queens have also taken a step towards the making the case for an actual border poll for the people of Ireland, as outlined in the a Good Friday Agreement.

This weekend on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October student activists from campuses across the country will be gathering in Sheffield a national conference to discuss and plan ‘Building the National Student Movement for Palestine’. Come along and join the discussion!

Student Broad Left and the National Black Students’ Alliance are proud to present the 'Progressive Students Forum: Fighting austerity, racism, climate change and war’ – taking place on Saturday 4 October 2014 from 10am at 'Student Central' (formerly the University of London Union). Read more

In contrast with western complicity with Israel’s attack on Gaza, Venezuela and its allies are offering concrete help to Palestine, says Matthew Willgress of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign. This article was first published in the Morning Star.

Today the National Executive Council of the National Union of Students will be debating Palestine and the student movement’s response to Israel’s ongoing horrific assault on Gaza. NUS National Executive member Aaron Kiely explains why NUS should back justice for Palestine.